Re:Warren Buffett: ‘Stay Away’ From Bitcoin
by jpmattia on Saturday March 15, 2014 @01:51PM
(#7405395)
> Gold hasn't been used as a coin in years, but is still valuable, thus demonstrating that it has intrinsic value.
So at what number of years does a store-of-value transition from "no intrinsic value" to "intrinsic value"?
> it's entire value lies in being a medium of exchange
So why is that somehow "extrinsic" value and not "intrinsic" value?
As near as I can tell, all currencies fit this description, and bitcoin is just yet-another-currency (And isn't that just what it's supposed to be?)
Gold actually does have intrinsic value, even if it isn't the best investment: it is a metal, it doesn't tarnish or corrode, it looks nice, and it is easily malleable. So gold gets used for electronic contacts (no corrosion, good conductivity) and jewelry (pretty, doesn't corrode, malleable) come to mind. Gold hasn't been used as a coin in years, but is still valuable, thus demonstrating that it has intrinsic value.
What can you make out of bitcoin? Nothing. If everyone lost their bitcoin keys (and therefore could not use them as a medium of exchange,) you could do nothing with them. Hence, no intrinsic value. He is pointing out that bitcoin is medium of exchange, not something with intrinsic value. A check has no intrinsic value, either (e.g. an expired paycheck), it's entire value lies in being a medium of exchange, not within itself.